PPF concerned over Murders of two Radio broadcasters

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) in a letter to the H.E. Danilo Medina Sánchez President of the Dominican Republic, expressed concern over the murders of radio broadcaster Luis Manuel Medina Pérez and producer Leónidas Antonio Evangelista Martínezduring live broadcast on February 15, 2017 in the southeastern city of San Pedro de Macorís.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali, in his letter urged the government of Dominican Republic to investigate thoroughly the double murder of Pérez and Martínez and bring to justice those behind the murders of journalists.

According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF) the incident took place in the studio of Radio 103.5 FM, located inside a shopping mall, where “Milenio Caliente”, an interactive news program was on-air and live at Facebook as well.

As Pérez was concluding his show, an armed man walked into the studio and suddenly opened fire on him and his producer Martínez. Both died on the spot. The gunman also shot the radio station’s secretary Dayana García, who was fatally injured.

The Dominican Republic is ranked 62nd out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2016 world Press freedom index.